Inland Revenue stars on QI tonight

Stephen Fry and the QI team are giving accountants and tax agents a treat tonight with an episode dedicated to the Inland Revenue.

Part of the quirky quiz show's "I" series, it’s a shorter version of an episode that was broadcast on 22 November, so you may have seen it already. If you really can’t drag yourself away from tax returns at 10pm, the British Comedy Guide has provided a quick digest of the episode.

One of the first interesting revelations is that the Pakistani authorities send transgender taxmen to visit those refusing to pay their tax bills, and treat the offenders to a song and dance until they pay up.

"Pub Landlord" comic Al Murray related how he was once investigated by the taxman after he took advice from Harry Hill, whereas Sandi Toksvig said the inspector she spent three days with ultimately confessed that the main reason for the enquiry was because "I just wanted to meet you".

The discussion ranges across window tax the reason and why houses in Amsterdam are so tall and narrow.

If you were sitting on the QI panel, what other facts do you know that would entertain the country?

I am told that still on the statute books is a law that says if you are inside the city walls of York and trade in goods and chattles that you pay no tax if the sheriff invokes the exemption each year. (It would help if you lived in the times of Richard II).

Apparently he does invoke the exemption these days by accepting a bribe by the Inland Revenue as was and he gives the money to Charity.

I watched a program on the making of QI and all the information comes from researchers. Stephen Fry said he couldn't believe that people would actually believe that he knows all the information given on the programme. I don't think Stephen Fry has ever tried to promote his own intelligence but others who have worked with him have commented on it.